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Utah closing in on BCS berth

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:28 AM (7) Utah (10-0) at San Diego State (1-9), 8:00 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Utah may be just two games away from returning to a BCS bowl game for the second time in four years.

The seventh-ranked Utes can inch a step closer Saturday when they visit San Diego State, one of the worst teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Utah's season is starting to take of the feel of its magic run during the 2004 campaign, when Alex Smith quarterbacked the Utes to a 12-0 record and a 35-7 victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.

Utah had some magic on its side in last Thursday's 13-10 victory over previously No-11 TCU. The Utes rallied from an early 10-0 deficit despite getting outgained, 416-275.

Utah (10-0, 6-0 Mountain West) was outplayed, but got lucky when TCU's Ross Evans missed two field goals in the final four minutes. Brian Johnson then engineered an 80-yard drive in the final minutes, tossing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Brown with 47 seconds remaining.

"No one panicked," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "To watch those players hang in there and never give in, that was - I love coaching this team. I love coaching this football team."

Utah is seventh in the latest BCS rankings - two spots ahead of fellow unbeaten Boise State - and likely would be in line for a BCS game by winning its final two contests against San Diego State and No. 14 Brigham Young.

Utah and Boise State are each battling for a BCS berth, but the Utes have the advantage due to a stronger schedule. While the Broncos are rolling in the Western Athletic Conference, they have no games left against ranked opponents.

Things have been nerve-wracking for Utah the last two weeks as it has won consecutive games by the same score. The Utes could get a breather against San Diego State (1-9, 0-6), which was drilled by BYU, 41-12, last week.

San Diego State is one of only five teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision with one win or less. The others are Washington (the only winless team), Washington State, Southern Methodist and North Texas.

Utah's offense, which has struggled the last two contests, could get a much-needed boost facing the Aztecs, who are surrendering just under 36 points per game.

The Utes need only a win over San Diego State to clinch no worse than a share of the Mountain West Conference title.